Apparatus for severing strip material into discrete elements and sorting and stacking said elements



July 2, 1957 w. BoRNr-:MANN 2,797,753

APPARATUS FOR SEVERING STRIP MATERIAL INTO DISCRETE ELEMENTS AND SORTING AND STACKING SAID ELEMENTS Filed Sept. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet l w/LL/AM Boff/VEMA/vm YM t/QIIvV/IINTOR.. U gf/JM ORA/EY 8 AGE/V7' W. BORNEMANN July 2, 1957 APPARATUS FOR SEVERING STRIP MATERIAL INTO DISCRETE ELEMENTS AND SORTING AND STACKING SAID ELEMENTS Filed Sept. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A A TORNEY AGE/VT )gms WILL/AM BORNEM/v/v S l L/55 July 2, 1957 w. BORNEMANN 2,797,753

APPARATUS RoR SEVERIN@ STRIP MATERIAL INT0 DIscRETE ELEMENTS AND soRTING AND STACKING SAID ELEMENTS Filed Sept. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheer 3 /5//2 (/0 (/4 (F l/0 /3 BY Us A T11 au TAT @6T-@wf ATTmTw/-y a AGENT July 2, 1957 w. BORNEMANN 2,797,753

APPARATUS FOR SEVERING STRIP MATERIAL INTO DISCRETE ELEMENTS AND soRTING AND sTAcKING SAID ELEMENTS Filed Sept. 28, 1955 6 Sl'xeets-SheeI 4 W/LL/AM BHNEMAN/V PNVENTOR.

ATTORNFY a AGE/v7' 'July 2, 1957 w. BoRNEMANN 2,797,753 APPARATUS FOR SEVERING STRIP MATERIAL INTO DISCRETE ELEMENTS AND SORTING AND STACKING SAID ELEMENTS Filed Sept. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheen 5 f/2 :rw/4

#mL/,4M Bomb-MANN o VVENTOR. v BY /43 /26 //6 ATTORNEY AGEA/7' July 2, 1957 w. BORM-:MANN I 2,797,753

l APPARATUS FOR SEVERING STRIP MATERIAL INTO DISCRETE ELEMENTS AND SORTING AND STACKING SAID ELEMENTS Filed Sept. 28, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheer, 6

w/LL/AM 50m/5mm" INVENTOR. @@Zm i? vfw/ ATTORNEY a AGE/V7 dnnul VJ MM5 UnitedStates Patent O APPARATUS FOR SEVERING STRIP MATERIAL INTO DISCRETE ELEMENTS AND SORTING AND STACKING SAlD ELEMENTS William Bornemann, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 28, 1955, Serial No. 537,111

4 Claims. (Cl. 164-49) The invention relates to apparatus for severing strip material and particularly to apparatus Vin which the strip material is severed into discrete elements of the exact same size and of the same dimensions with respect to an aperture in each of the elements.

In the camera disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 508,139, tiled May 13, 1955, the film strip comprises a series of code and document images which are exposed between the leader and trailer end of the iilm strip. Adjacent code and image areas are separated by a transverse elongated slot which is utilized for handling the individual frames when severed into individual elements. However, to facilitate handling of such small pieces of film during developing and processing, the lm is left in its strip form and then subsequently severed into the individual elements. The transverse slots or apertures are, therefore, utilized as a means for moving the film strip through .the camera, and severing apparatus as well as providing a means for locating and/or positioning the film strip in each of said aforementioned devices.

While devices for severing strip material into elements or sheets are known, the prior art relies on the advancing mechanism for determining and positioning the length of the strip material with respect to the cutting edge of the severing means. Due to wear, misalignment and other factors, the length of the sheet or element has been found to vary and the relation of the strip material to the severing edge is not always normal thereto to provide an exact cut whereby the edges are always perpendicular to one another. In the present invention these diculties are overcome by providing edge guides for the strip material which are located in the severing station and which are moved to a non-engaging position just prior to Contact of the strip material by `the severing means. By means of this arrangement, the strip material is maintained in exact relation to the severing edge until just prior to severing which results in uniform and exact cutting of the strip material. In addition, the length of material to be severed is exactly positioned in the severing station by locating means which engages the aperture or slot in the following length to be severed so that each element is severed in exactly the same relation to the transverse slot.

Since the individual elements are arranged between the leader and trailer ends of the strip material and it is not necessary to sever these lengths into individual elements, a separate magazine is provided to receive these portions as well as any individual elements which are to be rejected. To designate such lengths and reject elements, structural variations, such as notches in the edge of the strip material are provided and, in the present instance, these notches are placed in the strip material at the time it is exposed in the camera. As described more fully hereinafter, these structural variations are utilized to control the functioning of the apparatus whereby only the desired elements are severed and placed in the receiving magazine. It has been pointed out hereinbefore, that 2,797,753 flzatented July 2, 1957 ICC the size of the individual elements, which are approximately five-eighths of an inch by one and one-quarter inches, prohibits their handling. To eliminate the need for handling the elements individually or in groups after severing and to facilitate such handling, a receiving member is positioned with respect to the severing aperture and has a cross section congruous to the transverse slot or aperture in the elements, the receiving member being 'located in the magazine in accordance with the location of the slot with respect to the severing station. The severing means, in addition to cutting the strip material, also serves to move the severed element onto said receiving member, thereby permitting the severed elements to be removed from the magazine as a unit with the receiving member.

The primary object of .the invention is, therefore, to provide a device for severing strip material into discrete elements which are of uniform and exact size and which are severed with respect to an aperture or slot in each element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for severing strip material in which guide means for the strip material is moved to a non-engaging position by means associated with the severing means prior to contact of said severing means with the strip material.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device for severing strip material into discrete elements in which the receiving magazine for said elements has a receiving member arranged therein to receive said elements and to provide a means for removing a plurality of said elements from the magazine as a unit.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device for severing strip material into discrete elements in which the strip material 4is provided with structural variations to control the actuation of the severing means.

And still another object of the invention is to provide a device for severing strip material into discrete elements in which the strip material Vis provided with structural variations .to initiate the severing means, to control the severing means with respect to portions of the strip material to be rejected and to render the severing means inoperative upon severing of the last element.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art by the description which follows. Reference is made now to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate 4like parts and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partially in section .and showing the path through which the strip material is moved to the severing station and'the `arrangement of the magazines with respect to the severing station;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially along line 22 in Fig. 1 and showing portions of the driving arrangement for the severing means;

Fig. 3f4is a vertical section taken substantially along line 3 3 in Fig. l and showing the means for reciprocating thel severing means;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially along line 44 in Fig. l and showing the arrangement of the sensing means for the structural variations inthe strip material;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the movable means for guiding the strip material into the severing station;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View through the guide means shown in Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail side and elevation views of the receiving magazine and the receiving element arranged therein;

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail views, partially in section, of the clutch means;

Fig. 11 is a detail plan view of the strip material and showing the structural variations located along one edge thereof; and

Fig. l2 is a wiring diagram of the circuits for the apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned figures of the drawings.

The apparatus disclosed in Fig. l is utilized for severing a strip material into discrete elements `after exposure and development in strip form. As described in my above-mentioned copending application, the `strip material or film F can be perforated with a transverse aperture or slot within the camera prior to exposure of the frame it forms a part thereof or can be preperforated by suitable perforating apparatus beforehand. As shown in Fig. ll, such a film strip is provided with structural variations or notches 12 to indicate the start of exposures as at 13, a `reject frame as at 14 and the last frame as at 15. The notches indicating reject frames are located in the same position with respect to each frame and the start and finish notches are located `adjacent the position a reject notch would be made. As a result, 4in order to differentiate between start and finish a single notch and a double notch are utilized -as shown at 13 and 15 in Fig. l1. Due to the manner in which the film is wound on the reel in the camera, the leader end of the film with respect to the camera becomes the trailer end with respect to the severing apparatus because it is wound to the vcore or hub of the reel. Accordingly, notches 15 which comprise a start notch and a reject notch indicate the start position for the camera and the end or finish position for the severing apparatus. ln the same manner, notch 13 which indicates the end of the frames exposed in the camera serves to indicate the start of the frames in the severing device. In the description which follows, however, reference to the notches and leader and trailer portions of the film strip will apply to the film strip as it is used in conjunction with the severing apparatus.

With reference to Fig. l, reel on which the film lstrip is wound is mounted `on a spindle not shown land the leader end thereof is threaded around sprocket 22 and under spring-biased hold down rolls 23, 24 and 25, into a loop 26, over `roll 27, around sprocket 28 and under hold down roll 29 and into severing `station 30. A movable hold down shoe 31 is also provided for maintaining the film strip against sprocket 28.

Severing station 30 comprises an aperture 32 in plate 33, see Fig. 5, said aperture being of a size conforming to the individual elements to be severed from strip F. On plate 33 are mounted fixed guide members 34 and 35 and movable guide members 36 yand 37. The fixed guide members are arranged ahead of severing station 30 and are provided with slots 38 and 39 which engage the edges of the strip. Movable guide members 36 and 37 are arranged on opposite sides of `aperture 32 and are provided with slots 40 and 41 which engage the edges of the film strip as it is moved into position with respect to aperture 32 and are aligned with slots 38 and 39, see Fig. 3. Below aperture 32, magazine 42 is `arranged for receiving the elements as they are severed into discrete elements and beyond aperture 32, magazine 43 is secured to frame 44 by studs 45 for receiving the leader and trailer portions of the strip as well as the reject frames or elements. Magazine 42 is slidably mounted w1th respect to aperture 32 to permit movement thereof to a position in which the severed elements can be removed therefrom.

Magazine 42, see Figs. 7 and 8, is secured to spaced rods 46 Iand 47 which are 'slidable in wall 48 and lsuitable bearing blocks positioned beyond wall 48 and not shown. Receiving member 49 is arranged within magazine 42 and maintained in position by latch members 50 and 51 which are pivotally mounted on magazine 42 at 52 yand 53, respectively. Receiving member 49 comprises `an elongated member 54 having a cross section congruous to `apertures or slots 10 in strip material F and a tapered end 55 to facilitate receiving the severed elements. Receiving member 49 is provided with a handle portion 56 which is engaged by latch members 50 and 51 to maintain member 49 in position. When positioned -in magazine 42, member 54 is located in accordance with the position -of the slot or aperture 10 in aperture 32. As a result, when an element'is severed it is moved through aperture 32 and onto member 49 and since slot 18 and member 54 are of the same size and shape and 'also noncircular, it is impossible for the elements to twist or turn thereon.

A suitable motor is utilized as a drive means and drives shaft 61 by means of belt 62 in engagement with pulley 63 on said shaft, see Figs. 2 and 3. Shaft 61 has a gear 64 secured thereto which meshes with gear 65 on shaft 66 and, in turn,drives sprocket 67 fixed to shaft 66. By means of chain 68, see Fig. l, sprocket 67 drives sprocket 69 on shaft 70 to which film sprocket 22 is keyed. As a result of this drive between shaft 61 and shaft 70, sprocket 22 is driven continuously to maintain loop 26. Shaft 61 also drives a Geneva movement within housing 71, the driven member of said movement being fixed to shaft 72 on which film sprocket 28 is mounted to impart an intermittent movement thereto. The Geneva movement through sprocket 28 provides, therefore, a means for intermittently advancing equal lengths of the strip material into 'severing station 30. Gear 64 also meshes with idler gear 73 on stub shaft 74. Gear 73 meshes with gear 75 on shaft 76 to which driving member 77 of clutch 78 is keyed. The driven member 79 of clutch 78 is secured to one end of shaft 80 which carries at the other end thereof the eccentrically mounted bearing 81 to provide an oscillating motion to lsevering means 82. A hand wheel not shown is secured to shaft 61 4beyond pulley 63 to provide a manual means for actuating the device for purposes of threading, testing, observation, etc.

The severing means 82, see Figs. l and 3, comprises a block 85 having an extending portion 86 provided with two cutting edges 87 and 88 which cooperate with the sides of aperture 32 tosever the strip material. Block 85 has two bearing rods 89 and 90 secured thereto and which 'are supported by longitudinal bearings 91 and 92 in head 93. Eccentric bearing 81 is rotated within recess 94 in head 93 and block 85 is maintained in engagement with bearing 81 by spring 95 within head 93 and secured at one end thereto and at the other end to block 85. ln one revolution of shaft 80, block 85 is moved downward so edges 87 and 88 contact and move through the 'strip material, two cutting edges being provided in order to sever the leader portion and reject frames without depositing them in receiving magazine 42 as will be more fully described hereinafter.

in order to remove edge guides 36 and 37 into a nonengaging position with respect to severing means 82, cam plates 96 are mounted on each side of portion 86 and are provided with cram surfaces 97 which engage rollers 98 and 99 on said edge guides, see Figs. 2, 3 and 6. Edge guides 36 and 37 are slidably mounted on rollers 180 rotatably secured to said guides and retained in tracks 101 in plate 33 by spacers 102 and plates 103. Rollers 98 and 99 are mounted on a plate 104 secured to each -of said edge guides and said edge guides and rollers 188 are biased toward portion 86 by springs 185, the movement thereof toward portion 86 being limited by stops 106 on each of said movable edge guides. The relation of earn surfaces 97 to rollers 98 and 99 is such that edge guides 36 and 37 are moved to their nonengaging position prior to engagement of strip material 10 by cutting edges 87 and 88.

To insure proper and exact location of the element to be severed with respect to aperture 32 and with respect to slot 10 therein, locating or holding means 107 is mounted in block for movement with severing means 82. Slot engaging portion or pin 108 engages `slot or aperture 10 in the element following the element to be svred when the strip material is stationary and prior memes to engagement of the strip material by said severing means. In this way, the aperture in the following element is utilized to accurately locate the element to be severed With respect to aperture 32 in plate 33, and each element is severed so the dimensions thereof are the same with respect to slot or aperture therein.

A single revolution of shaft 80 and, hence, a single cutting stroke is attained by means of clutch 78. With reference to Figs. 9 and l0, clutch 78 comprises a lever 110 pivoted at 111 to driven member 79 and which has a nose 112 extending through slot 113 in member 79 for engaging the end 114 of bell crank lever 115. Lever 115 is pivotally mounted on plate 116 at 117 and the other end 118 thereof is pivotally connected at 119 to armature 120 of solenoid 121. ln an unenergized condition spring 122 maintains the armature of solenoid 121 in its extended position whereby end 114 and nose 112 are in engagement. ln this position, lever 110 is pivoted to a position in which the upper side thereof abuts slot 113. Flange 123 of driven member 79 is provided with diametrically opposed slots 124 and 125 in which connecting link 126 is slidably mounted. Link 126 carries a pin 127 which engages slot 128 in lever 110 and is biased into slot 129 in flange 130 of driving member 77 by spring 131. With lever 110 in the above-mentioned position, link 126 is maintained in a position in which nose 132 is within ange 130, thereby permitting rotation of driving member 77 with no connection to driven member 79. Energize.- tion of solenoid 121 rotates lever 115 clockwise about its pivot 117 thereby moving end 114 out of engagement with nose 112. Spring 131 then urges link 126 against the inner periphery of liange 13G and when slot 129 is aligned with nose 132 it enters said slot to connect driving member 77 with driven member 79 to rotate bearing 81 eccentrically with shaft 80 and to move block 85 toward aperture 32 in plate 33. The eccentricity of bearing 81 with respect to shaft 80 is such that the lowermost surface of extension 85 moves the severed element past spring-loaded balls 133, see Fig. 3, and onto the end 55 of member 49, spring 95 maintaining block 85 in contact with bearing 81 and returning it to its uppermost position. When lever 115 is moved into its disengaged position, roller 134 mounted on end 118 also rotates lever 135 about its pivot 136 on plate 116 in a counter-clockwise direction to move arm 137 thereof out of the path of pin 138 carried by driven member 79 and against the action of spring 139. Upon deenergization of solenoid 121, spring 122 causes armature 120 to move lever 115 in a counter-clockwise direction to position end 114 in the path of nose 112, and spring 139 moves lever 135 in a clockwise direction; however, arm 137 is cammed outwardly by pin 138 as nose 112 engages arm 114 and the additional movement of lever 110 by armA 114 toward the edge of slot 113 to disengage link 126 permits arm 137 to be returned under and into the path `of pin 138 to prevent any rebound of driven member 7 9. In order to reduce the shock of nose 132 entering slot 129, link 126 carries a roller 142 which rides within a recess 143, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 9, in member 77, said recess being provided with a cam surface 144 which permits gradual entry of nose 132 into said slot.

Between locating or holding means 107 and severing station 30, two pairs of sensing fingers 145, 146, 147 and 148 are located, one pair of lingers being associated with each side of the strip material. Since structural variations or notches may be provided along either edge of the strip material, two pairs of such lingers are provided although only one pair is utilized at a time. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, lingers 145 and 146 are pivotally mounted on a common pivot 149 and lingers 147 and 148 are mounted on a common pivot at 150, both pivot points being carried on a common plate 151. Each of the lingers is provided with an actuating portion 152-which trips its respective switch y153, 154, 155 and 156, whenever the ends 157 of said lingers enter a notch. The sensing ends 157 of said lingers extend through plate 33 and into suitable apertures in guides 34 and 35. The manner in which said lingers and notches control the operation of the device will he evident from the description of the wiring circuit hereinafter.

Mounted on the rear of sprocket 28 and rotatable therewith is a plate 160 in which a number of pins 161 corresponding to the number of teeth on sprocket 28 are slidably mounted and radially aligned with the sprocket teeth, see Figs. 1 and 3. Each of said pins 161 are provided with two annular grooves 162 and 163 for engaging its respective spring-biased ball 164 which is retained in plate 160 thereby. Lever 165 is pivotally mounted at 166 on Astud 167 secured to front wall 168, one end 169 of said lever being arranged with respect to pins 161 and the other end 17 t) being pivotally connected at 171 to armature 172 of solenoid 173. Spring 174 associated with said armature retains lever in its normal position. Upon energization of solenoid 173, armature 172 pulls in and rocks lever 165 in a counterclockwise direction whereby end 169 moves pin 161 aligned therewith axially and into a position in which ball 164 then engages groove 163. The end of the pin behind plate 160 then extends into a position to actuate one of two switches for controlling the actuation of clutch 78 with respect to the irst frame as described hereinafter. Upon deenergization of solenoid 173, armature 172 is returned to its normal position by spring 174 and at a predetermined point beyond the switches, any of pins 161 moved to an extended position are cammed back by any suitable member positioned in the path of said pin to their normal position in which ball 164 engages groove 162.

The sequence of operation vof the above device can best be understood when described in conjunction with the Wiring diagram shown in Fig. 12. Before exposure of the strip material in the camera described in the abovementioned application, the operator actuates both the start and reject buttons to provide two notches 15, side by side, along the edge of the material. These notches are in the leader end of the strip material as regards the camera but are in the trailer end of the strip material with respect to the severing device. The single notch 13 which is made in the strip material after the last frame has been exposed in the camera, then becomes the start notch with respect to the present device.

The strip material on reel 20 is positioned on its spindle and threaded through the above-described path and into severing station 30 with the leader end extending into magazine 43. The handwheel is then turned in the proper direction and the strip material is advanced intermittently until notch 13 which indicates the first element to vbe severed is visible to the extent that the number of slots 10 can be counted between the frame in which notch 13 has been made Vand the lirst frame or element that has been exposed. The separation will vary from one to two frames and switch 178 is then set by theoperator to the corresponding number, in the following description it being assumed that there is one frame separation. The determination of this number can also be made by the operator before inserting the reel on spindle 21 by unwinding the leader, making the count and then performing the threading operation. Line switch 179 can then be closed and if magazine 42 is properly positioned with respect to severing station 30, switch 180 will be closed so thatmotor 60 will be energized. By means of transformer 181 and rectifier 182 direct current is supplied to lines 183 and 184. With the energization of motor `60, sprocket 22 is driven continuously and sprocket 28 is driven intermittently by means of their respective drives from shaft 61 and gear 64. When the frame having notch 13 in its edge is stationary ahead of severing station 30, end 157 Vof linger 145 drops into notch 13 whereby portion 152 permits switch 153 to move to its closed position. At theinstant end 157-engages notch 13 the strip is stationary and during the first portionof this stationary insaires 7 terval and during the interval of strip movement cam 185 on shaft, 61 maintains switch 186 closed so that a'circuit is completed across lines 183 and 184 by means of switches 186 and 153 whereby relay R1 is energized, cam 185 permitting switch 186 to open only during the latter portion of the stationary interval. With energization of relay R1 `its contact R1-1 is closed and contact R1-2 is opened.

Contact R1-1 then completes a circuit across lines 183 and 184 to energize solenoid 173 and the opening of contact R1-2 has no effect circuitwise.

Solenoid 173 actuates the pin 161 aligned therewith into an extended position which will then actuate switch 187 or 188 depending on the position in which the operator has set arm 177 and, accordingly, switch 178. As the strip material is moved to advance another length, end 157 is moved out of notch 13 and switch 153 is then permitted to open. As plate 160 rotates with sprocket 28 and approaches the end of its movement for the succeeding frame, the extended pin 161 closes switch 187 which by means of line 192, switch 178 and switch 187 completes a circuit through relay R3. Relay R3 closes its contact R3-1 thereby maintaining R3 energized across the lines 183 and 184 and closes its contact R3-2 to complete a circuit across lines 183 and 184 and through solenoid 121. At this instance, the frame bearing notch 13 is in severing station 38. Solenoid 121 actuates arm 114 out of the path of nose 112 of lever 110 to permit link 126 to be moved by spring 131 and cam surface 144 into slot 129 in driving member 7'7 when slot 129 has been rotated into a position aligned with link 126, thereby connecting driving member 77 and driven member 79. Shaft 80 is, therefore, rotated and bearing 81 then moves head 85 downward toward the strip material. During the time required for link 126 and slot 129 to align and for block 85 to move downward, the element bearing notch 13 has been moved into reject magazine 43. Before cutting edges 87 and 88 contact the strip material, cam plates 96 engage rollers 98 and 99 to move guides 36 and 37 outwardly and into a position in which portion 86 is free to move into aperture 32 in plate 33. The iirst element to be severed is cut by both of edges 87 and S8, the severed element being moved through aperture 32 and past balls 133 into magazine 42 and onto end 55 of elongated member 54. The two cutting edges are, therefore, essential for severing the rst element from the leader strip which is deposited in magazine 43. As block 85 is returned by spring 95, guides v36 and 37 are moved inwardly by springs 105 into their normal position for guiding the strip material into severing station 30. Since contact R3-1 maintains relay R3 energized and contact R3-2 is, therefore, held closed, solenoid 121 is also maintained in an energized state and clutch '78 remains in an engaged position. As a result, as guides 36 and 37 assume their normal position, the succeeding length to be severed is immediately moved into position. With each actuation of block 85 toward the strip material, portion 108 engages the aperture in the following frame before edges 87 and 88 engage the strip material to insure correct positioning of the element in the severingr station. As long as the sensing lingers do not detect a notch in the edge of the strip material, the strip material is continually severed into discrete elements and deposited in magazine 42. A cam surface, indicated at 190 in Fig. l2, and arranged in the path of pins 161, as described hereinbefore, serves to move the extended pin 161 into its normal position, that is, wherein ball 164 engages groove 162 as it is moved past said surface by plate 168.

Whenever a reject notch 14 is sensed by finger 146 at the time the strip material is stationary, switch 154 is closed and relay R2 and capacitor 191 are connected across lines 183 and V184 by switches 186 and 154, capacitor 191 being charged during the interval switch 154 is closed. While the lm strip is stationary with the reject notch 14 in .the sensing station, the preceding element is severed. During the latter portion of this stationary interval cam 185 opens switch 186 and breaks the circuit to relay R2 and, upon movement of the film strip, switch 154 is also opened. However, capacitor 191 discharges through relay R2 to maintain it in an energized condition, consequently holding contact .R2-1 open and solenoid 121 deenergized for an interval sucient to permit arm 114 to engage nose 112 for moving link 126 out of slot 129, whereby the connection between members 77 and 79 is broken. This disengagement of clutch 78 occurs while the element containing notch 14 is moving into severing station 3E) and no severing action takes place while this element is in said station. After the time interval has elapsed, relay R2 is deenergized and contact R2-1 closes to connect solenoid 121 across lines 183 and 184, relay R3 being held in by contact R1-2 so that contact R3-2 is also closed. With the energization of solenoid 121, arm 114 is removed from under nose 112 and clutch 78 is then free to engage when link 126 and slot 129 become aligned. During the time required for clutch 7 8 to become engaged and move block toward the film strip, the element bearing reject notch 14 has moved into reject magazine 43. Head 85 is, therefore, moved into engagement with the strip material and edges 87 and 88 sever the strip to separate the rejected element. The cycle then continues with intermittent severing of the strip material until another reject notch is sensed by finger 146.

When two notches 15 are moved into position ahead of severing station 38, both fingers and 146 move into said notches whereby switches 153 and 154 are closed and with closure of switch 186 result in the energization of both relays R1 and R2. Upon energization of relay R1 and R2, contact R1-1 is closed but Contact R2-3 is opened so there is no effect circuitwise; contact R2-1 is opened and cuts out solenoid 121; and contacts R1-2 and R2-2 are opened to cut out relay R3. With the cutting out of relay R3, contacts R3-1 and R32 are opened and the entire circuit reverts to its original condition. However, motor 60 is still energized and the trailer strip is fed intermittently by sprockets 28 into magazine 43 without severing. Removal of the severed elements is accomplished by pulling magazine 42 outwardly after opening switch 179 and then releasing latch members 50 which permit withdrawal of member 49 and the severed elements as a unit by means of handle 56. Unless switch 179 is opened to stop the machine, the removal of the elements can take place only after a strip has been completely severed, because once magazine 42 is moved switch 180 is opened and the entire circuit is then automatically returned to its original condition. Otherwise, another notch 13 is then necessary to again condition relays R1, R2 and R3 in their proper sequence.

Although the circuit has been described only with respect to fingers 145 and 146, the same result is attained with lingers 147 and 148 when the notches are arranged along the other edge of the strip material. The invention has been described with reference to an apparatus for severing strip material in the form of photographic film; however, it is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to other types of strip material as well. Since many modifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment but is of a scope defined by the appended claims.

Having now particularly described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and what I claim is:

l. In a device for severing a strip material into discrete elements, said material having apertures equally spaced therealong and structural variations associated with the leader and trailer ends and portions thereof to be rejected and each of said elements having at least one aperture arranged in a predetermined relation to one of the edges thereof, the combination comprising a severing station, means arranged in said station forV normally engaging the edges of said strip material to guide it into said station and movable into a non-engaging position, a magazine arranged with respect to said station for receiving said discrete elements, a receiving member within said receiving magazine 'and arranged therein in accordance with the location of the aperture in said element when in said station, a magazine arranged beyond said station for receiving said leader and trailer ends and said reject portions, Vdrive means, means operatively connected to said drive means for intermittently moving equal lengths of said strip material into said station, severing means movable into contact with said material during the interval it is stationary and for moving the severed element into said receiving magazine and onto said receiving member, means associated with said severing means and movable therewith for moving and retaining said engaging means in said non-engaging position with respect to said strip material prior -to contact of said severing means with said material and during movement of the severed element into said receiving magazine, means movable with said severing means for engaging said aperture in the length of material ahead of lsaid station prior to contact of said material by said severing means to locate the length of material in said station, clutch means for operatively connecting said drive means to said severing means, means arranged with respect to said station for sensing structural variations in the length of said material ahead of said station, and circuit means responsive to said sensing means and the one of said structural variations for initiating and maintaining said clutch means operative whereby said sensing means severs said strip material and inserts the successive discrete elements into said receiving magazine, to each of the reject structural variations for rendering said clutch means inoperative to permit movement of said reject portion into said reject magazine, and to one of the reject structural variations and the structural variation associated with the trailer end of said material for rendering said circuit means and clutch means inoperative to permit movement of said trailer end into said reject magazine.

2. In a device for severing a strip material into discrete elements, said material having apertures equally spaced therealong and structural variations associated with the leader and trailer ends and portions thereof to be rejected, and each of said elements having at least one aperture arranged in a predetermined relation to one of the edges thereof, the combination comprising a severing station, means arranged in said station for normally engaging the edges of said strip material to guide it into said station and movable into a non-engaging position, a magazine arranged with respect to said station for receiving said discrete elements, a receiving member within said receiving magazine and arranged therein in accordance with the location of the aperture in said element when in said station, a magazine arranged beyond said station for receiving said leader and trailer ends and said reject portions, drive means, means operatively connected to said drive means for intermittently moving equal lengths of said strip material into said station, severing means movable into contact with said material during the interval it is stationary and for moving the severed element into said receiving magazine and onto said receiving member, means associated with said severing means and movable therewith for moving and retaining said engaging means in said non-engaging position with respect to said strip material prior to Contact of said severing means with said material and during movement of the severed element into said receiving magazine, means movable with said severing means for engaging said aperture in the length of material ahead of said station prior to contact of said material by said severing means to locate the length of material in said station, clutch means for operatively connecting said drive means to said severing means, means arranged with respect to said vstation for sensing structural variations in the length of said material ahead of said station, and circuit means responsive to said sensing means and the one of said structural variations for initiating said clutch means, and control means associated with said circuit means and actuated thereby for determining the initiation of said clutch means with respect to the structural variation associated with the leader of said material and the rst element to be severed.

3. In a device for severing a strip material into discrete elements, said material having apertures equally spaced therealong and structural variations associated with the leader and trailer ends and portions thereof to be rejected and each of said elements having at least one aperture arranged in a predetermined relation to one of the edges thereof, the combination comprising a severing station, means arranged in said station for normally engaging the edges of said strip material to guide it into said station and movable into a non-engaging position, a magazine arranged with respect to said station for receiving said discrete elements, a receiving member within said receiving magazine and arranged therein in accordance with the location of the aperture in said element when in said station, a magazine arranged beyond said station for receiving said leader and trailer ends and said reject portions, drive means, means operatively connected to said drive means for intermittently moving equal lengths of said strip material into said station, severing means movable into contact with said material during the interval it is stationary and for moving the severed element into said receiving magazine and onto said receiving member, means associated with said severing means and movable therewith for moving and retaining said engaging means in said non-engaging position with respect to said strip material prior to contact of said severing means with said material and during movement of the severed element into said receiving magazine, means movable with said severing means for engaging said aperture in the length of material ahead of said station prior to contact of said material by said severing means to locate the length of material in said station, clutch means for operatively connecting said drive means to said severing means, means arranged with respect to said station for sensing structural variations in the length of said material ahead of said station, circuit means responsive to said sensing means and the one of said structural variations for initiating and maintaining said clutch means operative whereby said sensing means severs said strip material and inserts the successive discrete elements into said receiving magazine, to each of the reject structural variations for rendering said clutch means inoperative to permit movement of said reject portion into said reject magazine, and to one of the reject structural variations and the structural variation associated with the trailer end of said material for rendering said circuit means and clutch means inoperative to permit movement of said trailer end into said reject magazine, and means associated with said circuit means and the sensing of a reject structural variation for permitting initiation of said clutch means only after said reject portion has been moved beyond said station and into said reject magazine.

4. In a device for severing a strip material into discrete elements, said material having apertures equally spaced therealong and structural variations associated with the leader and trailer ends and portions thereof to be rejected, and each of said elements having at least one aperture arranged in a predetermined relation to one of the edges thereof, the combination comprising a severing station, means arranged in said station for normally engaging the edges of said strip material to guide it into said station and movable into a non-engaging position, a magazine arranged with respect to said station for receiving said discrete elements, a receiving member within said receiving magazine and arranged therein in accordance with the location ofthe aperture in said element when in said station, a magazine arranged beyond said station for receiving said leader and trailer ends and said reject portions, drive means, means operatively connected to said drive means for intermittently moving equal lengths of sad strip material into said station, severing means movable into contact with said material during the interval it is stationary and for ymoving the severed element into said receiving magazine and onto said receiving member, means associated with said severing means and movable therewith for moving and retaining said engaging means in said non-engaging position with respect to said strip material prior to contact of said severing means with said material and during movement of the severed element into said receiving magazine, means movable with said severing means for engaging said aperture in the length of material ahead of said station prior to contact of said material by said severing means to locate the length of material in said station, clutch means for operatively connecting said drive means to said severing means, means arranged with respect to said station for sensing structural variations in the length of said material ahead of said station, circuit means responsive to said sensing means and the one of said structural variations associated with the leader end of said material for initiating and maintaining said clutch means operative whereby said sensing means severs said strip material zand inserts the successive discrete elements into said receiving magazine, to each of the reject structural variations for rendering said clutch means inoperative to permit movement of said reject portion into said reject magazine, and to one of the reject structural variations and the structural variation associated with the trailer end of said material for rendering said circuit means and clutchvmeans inoperative to `permit movement of said trailer Yend into said reject magazine, control means associated with said circuit means and actuated `thereby for determining the initiation of said clutch means with respect to the structural variation associated with the leader of said material and the rst element to be severed, and means associated with said circuit means and the sensing of a reject structural variation for permitting initiation of said clutch means only after said reject portion has been moved beyond said station and into said reject magazine.

Reerences Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 986,232 Smith Mar. 7, 1911 1,425,405 Miller Aug. 8, 1922 1,496,393 Topale lune 3, 1924 1,964,215 Roedels June 26, 1934 1,977,000 Landrock Oct. 16, 1934 1,979,413 Seft Nov. 6, 1934 2,047,221 Pechy July 14, 1936 2,188,994 Anderson Feb. 6, 1940 2,197,260 Pickett Apr. 16, 1940 2,286,686 Muddiman June 16, 1942 2,329,392 Crane Sept. 14, 1943 2,458,538 Socke Jan. 11, 1949 2,465,453 Holbrook Mar. 29, 1949 2,690,802 Russell Oct. 5, 1954 2,701,013 Klasing Feb. 1, 1955 2,722,274 Turnball Nov. 1, 1955 

